Boston City Council Public Records
http://bostoncitycouncilpublicrecords.blogspot.com/

Sunshine Boston
http://sunshineboston.blogspot.com

CANDIDATES for NOVEMBER 8, 2011 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
BALLOT ORDER
http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/

CITY COUNCILLOR-at-LARGE
Will Dorcena 63 Gordon Avenue District 5
Ayanna S. Pressley 1910 Dorchester Avenue District 3 Present City Councillor at Large
Felix G. Arroyo 93 Wachusett Street District 6 Present City Councillor at Large
John R. Connolly 12 Shaw Street District 6 Present City Councillor at Large
Michael F. Flaherty 1726 Columbia Road District 2
Stephen J. Murphy 141 Warren Avenue District 5 Present City Councillor at Large
Sean H. Ryan 264 Lamartine Street District 6

CANDIDATES for NOVEMBER 8, 2011 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
BALLOT ORDER
http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/

DISTRICT CITY COUNCILLOR
DISTRICT ONE
Salvatore LaMattina 76 Montmorenci Avenue District 1 Present District City Councillor

DISTRICT TWO
Suzanne Lee 1 Nassau Street District 2
Bill Linehan 128 G Street District 2 Present District City Councillor

DISTRICT THREE
John K. O’Toole 114 Minot Street District 3
Frank Baker 43 Grampian Way District 3

DISTRICT FOUR
J. R. Rucker 103 Tonawanda Street District 4
Charles Calvin Yancey 3 Hooper Street District 4 Present District City Councillor

DISTRICT FIVE
Rob Consalvo 18A Chittick Road District 5 Present District City Councillor

DISTRICT SIX
Matt O’Malley 226 Jamaicaway District 6 Present District City Councillor

DISTRICT SEVEN
Sheneal Parker 30 Symphony Road District 7
Tito Jackson 37 Schuyler Street District 7 Present District City Councillor

DISTRICT EIGHT
Michael P. Ross 214 Parker Hill Avenue District 8 Present District City Councillor

DISTRICT NINE
Mark S. Ciommo 10 Oliva Road District 9 Present District City Councillor

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Suffolk
The Superior Court

CIVIL DOCKET#: SUCV2005-01798-B

Re: McCrea et al v Flaherty et al

To: David Waterfall, Esquire
     Boston (City of) Law Dept
     CITY HALL
     Room 615
     Boston MA 02201
________________________
_NOTICE OF DOCKET ENTRY_

You are hereby notified that on 09/09/2011 the following
entry was made on the above referenced docket:

JUDGMENT It is Ordered and Adjudged All parties agree to
entry of a Final Judgment in this case against the defts

The defts admit the facts described in the complaint

Based on the evidence presented at trial the court finds
that the Boston City Council has taken significant action
to be in substantial compliance with the requirements of
the Open Meeting Law since June 11, 2009

As a result this Court finds that no injunctive relief
whether permanent or temporary is necessary

The Court Orders that the defts shall pay costs to the
plffs in the following amounts $115.00 to Shirley Kressel
$380.00 to Kevin McCrea and $348.50 to Kathleen Devine
entered on docket pursuant to Mass R Civ P 58(a)
http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/source/mass/rules/civil/mrcp58.html
and notice sent to parties pursuant to Mas R Civ P 77(d)
http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/source/mass/rules/civil/mrcp77.html

Dated at Boston Massachusetts this 9th day of September,
2011

Michael Joseph Donovan
Clerk of Courts
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/superiorcourt/index.html

By: Richard Muscato, Assistant Clerk

Telephone 617 788-8141

Disabled individuals who need handicap accommodations
should contact the Administrative Office of the Superior
Court at 617 788-8130

cvdgeneric_2.wpd 3995418 judgm phillips


NOTIFY
46

~_No C____
~9/9/11~
~KM~
~SK~
~KD~
~RGN~
~MS~
~JFK~
~KER~
~RF~
~MSH~
~MC~
~DW~

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
SUFFOLK, ss.

SUPERIOR COURT
CIVIL ACTION
No. 2005-01798

KEVIN MCCREA & others^1
vs.
MICHAEL FLAHERTY & another^2

^1 Shirley Kressel and Kathleen Devine
^2 Boston City Council

_FINAL ORDER AND ENTRY OF JUDGMENT_

In May, 2005, the plaintiffs, Kevin McCrea, Shirley
Kressel, and Kathleen Devine filed this action for alleged
violations of the Open Meeting Law, G. L. c. 39, ss 23A-C
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter39
by the defendants, the Boston City Council and its
President, Michael Flaherty (collectively referred to as
"the Council").^3
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIII/Chapter30A

The plaintiffs challenged the legality of certain meetings
held in 2003, 2004, and 2005 and alleged that the repeated
violations constituted a "systematic" failure to comply
with the requirement of the Open Meeting Law.

In addition to declaratory relief invalidating votes taken
at the challenged meetings, the plaintiffs requested an
injunction ordering the Council to comply with the Open
Meeting Law at future meetings.



On March 27, 2006, this Court (Holtz, J.) denied a motion
for summary judgment filed by the Council and instead
granted summary for the plaintiffs.

Judge Holtz declared that the Council had violated the Open
Meeting Law on certain dates, imposed a fine of $1,000 per
violation, and ordered the Council to comply with the Open
Meeting Law in the future.

The Council appealed.

On June 6, 2006, the Appeals Court upheld the denial of the
Council's motion for summary judgment and the grant of
summary judgment to the plaintiffs as to the January 20,
2005 violation of the Open Meeting Law and the failure of
the December 15, 2004 meeting to "cure" any earlier
violations.

The Appeals Court also upheld the denial of the Council's
motion for summary judgment as to the alleged violations of
January 13, 2005, February 17, 2005, and March 24, 2005.

The Appeals Court vacated the decision in all other
respects and remanded to this Court.



In November, 2008, the parties filed cross-motions for
summary judgment setting forth their issue as one of
remedy; specifically, what level of oversight, if any, the
Superior Court ought to impose to ensure continued future
compliance with the Open Meeting Law.

The Council accepted the judgment as to past violations and
fines imposed and argued that a permanent injunction was
not necessary because, following the Appeals Court
decision, the Council prepared a new set of guidelines to
ensure full compliance with the various requirements of the
Open Meeting Law and insisted they would comply in the
future.

In response, the plaintiffs pointed to the Council's long
history of non-compliance, post-Appeals Court decision
violations, and a report commissioned by the Council
("Walkowski Report") that explored the method and means by
which legislation might be passed exempting municipal
council bodies from the Open Meeting Law.

The plaintiffs argued that a permanent injunction was
necessary because the evidence had shown that the Council
continued to be resistant to complying with the Open
Meeting Law.



On June 11, 2009, Judge Holtz issued her decision
acknowledging the "valid concerns raised by the
plaintiffs...recently heightened by a filing of a complaint
for contempt" which she balanced against (a) the Council's
acceptance of the judgment against them, including the
payment of fines for certain violations, and (b) the
Council's representations that it has and will continue to
comply with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law.

2

Further, she pointed out that although the creation of
guidelines provides some evidence of the Council's interest
in ensuring compliance with the Open Meeting Law, the
guidelines "appear to have been drafted simultaneously with
exploring Home Rule legislation which can only be seen as
an ill-considered effort to cloak the business of municipal
government in secrecy."

The Court also considered the high cost of this litigation
to the taxpayers and the plaintiffs' concern that they
should not have to start from the beginning each time the
Council violates the Order in the future.

The court recommended the presence of an independent
attorney at Council meetings and indicated that it would
consider entertaining the Council's motion for summary
judgment, including vacating its earlier order regarding
fines, if the Council conducted meetings in a manner
consistent with the Open Meeting Law "with advice from
outside counsel where appropriate."

In the end, Judge Holtz issued a temporary order "in the
hope that the defendants will establish a satisfactory
track record of compliance."

The temporary order stated that the matter would be held
under advisement for six months at which time the parties
would appear for a status conference and the Court would
determine what additional orders should enter.



Both parties filed requests for clarification.

On September 10, 2009, Judge Holtz endorsed the motions in
relevant part: "the Court will not require that the
attys. be present at every single meeting - to the
contrary, this Court will permit the defendants to proceed
as described in their motion.

It is not helpful to a _resolution_ of these valid concerns
for any of the parties to submit incentive-laden pleadings.

The Court's efforts are focused on present and future
compliance with the Open Meeting Laws.

If the Court is assured that such compliance is the norm,
this will help inform the Court as to what remedy is
necessary or appropriate and/or whether any sanction is
necessary re: contempt." (emphasis in original).

3

On April 19, 2011, the parties appeared before me for a
status conference.

All parties requested the Court to enter a final judgment
against the defendants on all counts.

The parties could not agree on the content of this final
judgment.

An evidentiary hearing was held on June 20-21, 2011
regarding what remedy, if any, is appropriate to end this
litigation in light of the June 11, 2009 order.

The plaintiffs request various forms of permanent
injunctive relief, alleging that the Council continues to
violate the requirements of the Open Meeting Law.

The Council contends that they have substantially complied
with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law since the
June 11, 2009 order and, thus, injunctive relief and/or
fines are unnecessary.



After reviewing all the testimony and documents produced
during the June hearing, I decline to issue injunctive
relief for the following reasons:

First, I find that during the two years since Judge Holtz'
decision, there has been a positive change in the Council's
attitude toward and attention to the requirements of the
Open Meeting Law, as evidenced by the numerous changes the
Council has made to ensure compliance with the Open Meeting
Law, including changes that were not court-ordered.

For example, since 2009 an assistant corporation counsel
has attended all meetings to watch over the Council and
answer all questions.

Furthermore, minutes have been taken for all working
sessions, executive sessions, and hearings.

In addition, training on the Open Meeting Law is now done
by experts and is open to all Council members and their
staff.

Since 2009, the Council has also adjusted their rules to
ensure compliance with the Open Meeting Law.^3
___________________
^3 The Court also notes that the Open Meeting Law was
amended in July, 2010 to designate the Attorney General's
Office as the enforcing agency of the law.

See Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2009, sections 17-20,
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2009/Chapter28
repealing the existing state Open Meeting Law,
G. L. c. 30!, ss 11A, 11A-1/2, county Open Meeting Law,
G. L. c. 34, s9F, 9G, and municipal Open Meeting Law,
G. L. c. 39, ss 23A, 23B, and 23C, and replacing them with
a single Open Meeting Law covering all public bodies,
G. L. c. 30A, ss 18-25.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIII/Chapter30A

4

I also note that the membership of the Council is vastly
different than the membership of the Council between
2003-2005.

There has been tremendous turnover so that most of the
members of the Council today had nothing to do with the
actions challenged by the plaintiffs between 2003-2005.

Additionally, I credit the testimony of the three city
councilors who testified about the change in attitude at
the Council toward the Open Meeting Law and the harm that
would be suffered by continued court monitoring.

For example, Councilor Maureen Feeney testified that the
Council made specific changes in response to Judge Holtz'
decision and that in her opinion the Council embraces the
Open Meeting Law and wants to be compliant.

Councilor Michael Ross testified that the Council is
committed to the Open Meeting Law and that in his opinion
the Council has done well acting on Judge Holtz'
recommendations and with outside oversight.

Councilor Steven Murphy testified that the Council is
firmly committed to the Open Meeting Law and that a court
order would do much harm, particularly considering the
steps the Council has taken to be compliant with the Open
Meeting Law.

Finally, I find no compelling reason to continue this
litigation.

The Council has shown that it has changed its attitude
toward the Open Meeting Law and has taken and continues to
take steps to ensure its compliance with the Open Meeting
Law.


All parties agree to the entry of a Final Judgment in this
case against the defendants who admit the facts described
in the complaint.

Each party has submitted a proposed form of Final Judgment
for this Court to consider.

For the reasons discussed above, it is hereby _ORDERED_
that no injunctive relief, whether permanent or temporary,
is necessary.

All past unpaid fines are waived.

A Final Judgment shall enter as follows:

All parties agree to entry of a Final Judgment in this case
against the defendants.

5

The defendants admit the facts described in the complaint.

Based on the evidence presented at trial, the court finds
that the Boston City Council has taken significant action
to be in substantial compliance with the requirements of
the Open Meeting Law since June 11, 2009.

As a result, this Court finds that no injunctive relief,
whether permanent or temporary, is necessary.

The Court orders that the defendants shall pay costs to the
plaintiffs in the following amounts: $115.00 to Shirley
Kressel, $380 to kevin McCrea, and $348.50 to Kathleen
Devine.

/s/John C. Cratsley
Justice of the Superior Court

Date: September 8, 2011

6

On Wed, Oct 12, 2011 at 2:41 PM, Chavez, Miguel wrote:
Ensure that Greater Roxbury's voice is heard......come to Franklin Park Golf Course 1 Circuit Drive and testify for your neighborhood

The Boston City Council’s Committee on Census & Redistricting will hold five hearings to discuss the redistricting process at locations throughout the City during the months of September and October.

District 2 City Councilor and Committee Chair Bill Linehan called for the hearings in order to solicit feedback from community leaders and residents active in their neighborhoods.

The Census & Redistricting Committee is charged with reviewing the results of the U.S. Census figures, overseeing voter participation levels and the process of redistricting.

The Committee held a public hearing at City Hall in May but Councilor Linehan felt the need to bring the Council to the neighborhoods and gather more input from residents in advance of any changes to the current Council boundaries.

“It is imperative that these sessions are attended by a diverse group of residents” Linehan explains. “Folks should come to voice their opinion and state criteria they feel is important to drawing a new district map.”

Given the 2010 Census results and the current delineation of Council districts, it is clear that many neighborhoods will be impacted and likely to see changes to the current City Council boundaries.

While Boston experienced a significant population growth from 2000, up nearly 5% (589,141- 617,594), only five of nine districts located in the northern sections of the City saw the increases.

Boston City Council
http://cityofboston.gov/citycouncil
city.council@cityofboston.gov

One City Hall Square 5th Floor
Boston MA 02201
Phone 617 635-3040
Fax 617 635-4203

Committee Hearing Notice -- Added Date

September 30, 2011

The Boston City Council's Committee on Census & Redistricting will hold several public hearings on the following dates:

. 6pm Thursday 8 September 2011 at Suffolk Law School
    120 Tremont Street Boston
. 6pm Tuesday 20 September 2011 at George Wright Golf Course
    420 West Street Boston
. 6pm Thursday 13 October 2011 at Franklin Park Golf Course
    1 Circuit Drive Boston
. 6pm Tuesday 18 October 2011 at Reggie Lewis Center
    1350 Tremont Street Boston
. 6pm Wednesday 26 October 2011 at New England Carpenter's Hall
    750 Dorchester Avenue Boston

The subject of the hearings is

Docket #0511: An Order for a Hearing Regarding the Results of the 2010 Census and Redistricting the City of Boston

This matter was sponsored by Councilor Linehan and referred to the committee on 6 April 2011.

Members of the public are cordially invited to attend and testify. If you have not testified at a Council hearing before, please arrive 5 minutes before the call of the hearing to sign up and become familiar with the hearing format, testimony locations, and sound system. Please bring 15 copies of any written documentation you wish to present at the hearing. If you know of others who may be interested in this hearing, kindly notify them.

Written comments may be made part of the record and avialable to all Councilors by sending them by email, fax, or mail to arrive before the hearing, please use the information below.

For the Committee:
/s/Bill Linehan, Chair
Committee on Census & Redistricting

Mail Address: Docket #0511, City Council, City Hall 5th Floor, Boston MA 02201
Fax Number: 617 635-4203 Attn: Christine O'Donnell, Docket #0511
Committee email: ccc.census@cityofboston.gov
Staff email: christine.o'donnell@cityofboston.gov

[Boston City Seal]
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boston_city_seal.png

SICUT PATRIBUS SIT DEUS NOBIS.
God Be with Us as He Was with Our Fathers

BOSTONIA. CONDITA A.D. 1630.
Boston, Founded in the Year of Our Lord 1630

CIVITATIS REGIMINE DONATA A.D. 1822.
City Status Granted by the Authority of the State in the Year of Our Lord 1822

Support open government !

Don't reelect the current Boston District 2 City Councilor. Don't reelect the current Boston District 7 City Councilor. Full transcripts of the public meetings of the City Council have been censored under their watch. Support open government. Vote for a new Boston City Council.

Update contract for stenographic services at Boston City Council

contract. link. stenographic services at Boston City Council

Boston City Council stenographic services need to be updated

Boston City Council stenographic services need to be updated
bid document 2007
bid document 2010


Boston City Council Candidates listings 3 August 2011
http://www.cityofboston.gov/boardsandcommissions/elections.asp
http://www.cityofboston.gov/contact/?id=33
John.Donovan at cityofboston.gov


CANDIDATES

2011 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

CANDIDATES for COUNCILLOR-at-LARGE

No Preliminary Election

Felix G Arroyo 93 Wachusett Street Jamaica Plain MA 02130 617-635-4205
John R Connolly 12 Shaw Street West Roxbury MA 02132 617-635-3115 617-447-1302
Will Dorcena 63 Gordon Avenue Hyde Park MA 02136 617-899-4076
Michael F Flaherty 1726 Columbia Road South Boston MA 02127 617-269-4673
Stephen J Murphy 141 Warren Avenue Hyde Park MA 02136 617-635-4376
Ayanna S. Pressley 1910 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester Ma 02124 617-635-4217
Sean H Ryan 264 Lamartine Street Jamaica Plain MA 02130 617-504-3133


CANDIDATES for DISTRICT CITY COUNCILLOR

DISTRICT ONE No Preliminary Election
Salvatore LaMattina 76 Montmorenci Avenue East Boston MA 02128 617-635-3200 (no Preliminary)

DISTRICT FOUR No Preliminary Election
J R Rucker 103 Tonawanda Street Dorchester MA 02124 617-436-0815 (no Preliminary)
Charles Calvin Yancey 3 Hooper Street Dorchester MA 02124 617-635-3131

DISTRICT FIVE No Preliminary Election
Rob Consalvo 18A Chittick Road Hyde Park MA 02136 617-361-5733 617-828-0129 (no Preliminary)

DISTRICT SIX No Preliminary Election
Matt O'Malley 226 Jamaicaway Jamaica Plain MA 02130 617-935-9752 617-635-4220

DISTRICT EIGHT No Preliminary Election
Michael P Ross 214 Parker Hill Avenue Roxbury MA 02120 617-635-4225 617-708-0202

DISTRICT NINE No Preliminary Election
Mark S Ciommo 10 Oliva Road Brighton MA 02135 617-789-4693 617-635-3113


The following three City Council Districts will have a Preliminary Election

DISTRICT TWO
Bob Ferrara 1776 Columbia Road South Boston MA 02127
Suzanne Lee 1 Nassau Street Boston MA 02111 617-566-9992 617-935-1211
Bill Linehan 128 G Street South Boston MA 02127 617-635-3203 617-224-6911

DISTRICT THREE
Frank Baker 43 Grampian Way Dorchester MA 02125 617-288-9061 617-947-9515
Doug Bennett 714 Adams Street Dorchester MA 02122 617-963-4213
Stephanie L Everett 197 Manchester Street Mattapan MA 02126 617-834-8688
Craig M Galvin 23 Cheverus Road Dorchester MA 02124 617-436-2000
Martin J Hogan 491 Ashmont Street Dorchester MA 02122 617-297-5771 617-203-1791
John K O'Toole 114 Minot Street Dorchester MA 02122 617-201-7866 617-287-9398
Marydith E Tuitt 127 Fairmount Street Dorchester MA 02124 617-719-6813


DISTRICT SEVEN
Althea Garrison 98 Howard Avenue Dorchester MA 02125 617-407-7661
Tito Jackson 37 Schuyler Street Dorchester MA 02121 617-442-2837 617-635-3510
Roy Owens 6 Woodville Street Roxbury MA 02119 617-541-4335
Sheneal Parker 30 Symphony Road Boston MA 02115 781-473-0640

Ask your favorite Boston City Council candidate, "If elected, will you release the full transcript of the public meetings of Boston City Council?"

Ask your favorite Boston City Council candidate, "If elected, will you release the full transcript of the public meetings of Boston City Council?"... a) Budgeted for with public funds, b) searchable, c) easier to read through than watching video, d) more complete than minutes, e) more accessible for folks with hearing loss, the stenographic machine in the Council Chamber stores a computer file with the full transcript of the public meeting of the City Council for public feedback, comment, suggestions, questions. You have the words of your favorite Councilor with the full transcript.

The Art of Access

The Art of Access
http://theartofaccess.com

Diamante stenographic machine. Boston City Council.

Support open government. Diamante stenographic machine at Boston City Council stores a computer file with the full transcript of the most recent public meeting of the Council. Ask your favorite City Council Candidate for the full transcript
http://www.stenograph.com/ProductDetails.aspx?prodid=45001

Open Meeting Law Advisory Commission

Open Meeting Law Advisory Commission
October 25, 2010 Public meeting
One Ashburton, Place, Boston, 21st Floor
Members present: Robert Ambrogi, Loretta Lillios, Peter Hechenbleikner
Members absent: Sen. Brian Joyce, Rep. Steve Walsh
Others present: Britte McBride, Director, Division of Open Government, Attorney
General’s Office; Jonathan Sclarsic, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney General’s
Office, Josh Harrell from Rep. Steve Walsh’s office Joshua.harrell@mahouse.gov
Chair Loretta Lillios
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagosubtopic&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=The+Open+Meeting+Law&L3=Open+Meeting+Law+Advisory+Commission&sid=Cago

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Office of the Attorney General
One Ashburton Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02108

[ seal ]
Massachusetts Attorney General
Martha Coakley
http://mass.gov/ago/openmeetings
Phone: 617 727-2200
TTY 617 727-4765
openmeeting@state.ma.us

OPEN MEETING LAW COMPLAINT FORM
Instructions for completing the Open Meeting Law Complaint Form

The Office of the Attorney General's Division of Open Government is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Open Meeting Law.

Pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, §23,
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIII/Chapter30A
the Open Meeting Law requires that, prior to filing a complaint with the Attorney General, complaints must first be filed with the public body that is alleged to have committed the violation.

The complaint must be filed with the public body within 30 days of the alleged violation, or if the alleged Open Meeting Law violation could not reasonably have been known at the time it occurred, then within 30 days of the date it should reasonably have been discovered.

The complaint must set forth the circumstances which constitute the alleged violation, giving the public body an opportunity to remedy the alleged violation.



Please complete the entire form, providing as much information as possible, to assist the public body in responding to your complaint.

You may attach additional materials to your complaint if necessary.

The public body may request additional information if necessary.

The Division of Open Government will not, and public bodies are not required to, investigate anonymous complaints.



Complaints alleging a violation of the Open Meeting Law by a local public body must be filed with the clerk of the city or town where the alleged violation occurred.

Complaints alleging a violation by a county, regional or state public body must be filed with the chair of the public body.



If you are not satisfied with the action taken by the public body in response to your complaint, you may file a copy of your complaint with the Attorney General 30 days after filing your complaint with the public body.

The complaint must include this form and any documents relevant to the alleged violation.

A complaint may be filed either by mail or by hand with the:

Office of the Attorney General
Division of Open Government
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108

The Attorney General may decline to investigate a complaint that is filed with the Attorney General more than 90 days after the alleged OML violation, unless an extension was granted to the public body or the complainant demonstrates good cause for the delay.




[ seal ]
Massachusetts Attorney General
Martha Coakley

OPEN MEETING LAW COMPLAINT FORM

Office of the Attorney General
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
http://mass.gov/ago/openmeetings
Phone: 617 727-2200
TTY 617 727-4765
openmeeting@state.ma.us

Your Contact Information:
First Name: Last Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Phone Number: Ext.
Email:
Organization or Media Affiliation (if any):

Are you filing the complaint in your capacity as an individual, representative of an organization, or media?
(For statistical purposes only)
[__]Individual [__]Organization [__]Media

Public Body that is the subject of this complaint:
[__]City/Town [__]County [__]Regional/District [__]State

Please note that all fields are required unless otherwise noted.

Name of Public Body (including city/town, county or region, if applicable):

Specific person(s), if any, you allege committed the violation:

Date of alleged violation:

Page 1





Description of alleged violation:
Describe the alleged violation that this complaint is about. If you believe the alleged violation was intentional, please say so and include
the reasons supporting your belief.
Note: This text field has a maximum of 3000 characters.

What action do you want the public body to take in response to your complaint?
Note: This text field has a maximum of 500 characters.

Review, sign, and submit your complaint
Read this important notice and sign your complaint.

Under most circumstances your complaint will be considered a public record and be available to any member of the public upon request.

I understand that when I submit this complaint the Attorney General's Office cannot give me legal advice and cannot act as my personal lawyer.

I certify that the information contained on this form is true to the best of my knowledge.

Signed: ___________________________________________ Date:____________________________

By filling in my name and checking this box, I certify that the information I have provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and that I adopt this as my online signature.
Declaration:[__]

For Use By Public Body
Date Received by Public Body:

For Use By AGO
Date Received by AGO:

Page 2


.

The electronic stenographic record created during the most recent meeting of the Boston City Council

June 19, 2011
SPR11/156

I have received your petition appealing the response of the City of Boston (City) to your April 23, 2011 public records request. See G. L. c. 66, s 10(b) (2008 ed.) (Supervisor of Records has authority to resolve public records appeals);
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleX/Chapter66
see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2) (appeal process).
http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/source/mass/cmr/950cmr.html

Specifically, you requested an electronic stenographic record created during the most recent meeting of the City Council.

In the past, you have requested copies of the stenographic output created during the City Council meetings and you have been provided with a fee estimate for the provision of the photocopies of the paper records created by the stenographic machine. Based on recent information regarding the capabilities of the particular stenographic machine used during City Council meetings, you had reason to believe that an electronic version of the stenographic output could possibly be created. Consequently, you requested this electronic version of the stenographic output

On June 6, 2011, Ms. Priscilla Tollen, of the City, informed Rebecca Murray, an attorney with the Public Records Division, that the City does not have an electronic copy of the stenographic documents. There is no obligation for a custodian to create a record in response to a public records request. G. L. C. 66, s 10(a) (2008 ed.); 32 Op. Att'y Gen. 157, 165 (May 18, 1977).
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleX/Chapter66
http://www.archive.org/details/reportofattorney1977mass

Given that the City does not have the records responsive to your request and there is no obligation to create these records, accordingly, I will consider this matter closed.
Very truly yours,
Shawn A. Williams, Assistant Director
pre@sec.state.ma.us
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcrmu/rmuidx.htm

cc:
Ms. Priscilla Tollen
Ms. Rosaria Salerno

ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SVB LIBERTATE QVIETEM
She seeks with the sword a quiet peace under liberty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Massachusetts_coat_of_arms.png

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth
Public Records Division
One Ashburton Place, 17th Floor
Boston Massachusetts 02108
617 727-2832

.

Denial. Boston City Clerk. Assistant City Clerk.

Does the Boston City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk understand the technology of the computerized stenographic machine that records the full public meeting of Boston City Council?... instead of providing to the public the computer file stored on the computerized stenographic machine denial takes over with claims the full stenographic machine record doesn't exist yet it's edited down to create Minutes.

Report on the availability of a full transcript of the public meeting of Boston City Council

Report on the availability of a full transcript of the public meeting of Boston City Council.

a)
Failure of the City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk to understand the technology in place currently.

b)
Trivially easy to download/email the computer file stored on the computerized stenographic machine
http://www.stenograph.com/ProductDetails.aspx?prodid=45001
http://www.stenograph.com/marcom/downloads/diamante/Diamante_User_Guide.pdf

c)
The technology of the computerized stenographic machine should be understood so that the public has access to the public record stored on the machine for the public meeting of Boston City Council.

Ask for the full transcript of the last public meeting of Boston City Council...

Ask for the full transcript of the last public meeting of Boston City Council. Transcripts... Boston City Council's Diamante Writer in Blue Ice http://www.stenograph.com/ProductDetails.aspx?prodid=45001

An up to date City Stenographer with up to date technology.

Ask Boston City Council that they use Case CATalyst http://www.stenograph.com/category.aspx?id=40001 and LiveNote http://west.thomson.com/products/services/livenote along with Closed Captioning for folks with hearing loss.

Support open government. Improve City Council Communications from the stenographic machine at Boston City Council. Make available the deliberations of the public meeting of the City Council with Case CATalyst and LiveNote. Make available the words of Councilors in the public meeting for public feedback, comment, questions, suggestions. The capability for this is already available if the will is truly to be more transparent.

City Stenographer services, budgeted for with public funds, more complete than only minutes, easier to read through than watching video, using all the features of the technology would make available more readily the transcript of Councilors' deliberations in the public meeting of the City Council, all the words of the Councilors in the public meeting for public feedback, comment, questions and suggestions. See also Diamante Writer in Blue Ice http://www.stenograph.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=100001&subid=6140001&prodid=45001

Will any potential candidates advocate release of the stenographic machine record?

Will any potential candidates for Boston City Council advocate release of the stenographic machine record of the public meeting of the City Council?

Boston City Council Potential Candidates. Update for Tuesday 17 May 2011

Boston City Council Potential candidates. Update for Tuesday 17 May 2011.
[Details... email john.donovan at cityofboston.gov]
http://www.cityofboston.gov/boardsandcommissions/elections.asp
http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/

POTENTIAL CANDIDATES
PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES for COUNCILLOR-at-LARGE
Deshon Porter 39 Boylston Street Boston, Ma 02116
William B Feegbeh 251 Cambridge Street Allston, Ma 02134 857-237-6649
John R Connolly 12 Shaw Street West Roxbury, Ma 02132 617-635-3115 617-447-1302
Felix G Arroyo 93 Wachusett Street Jamaica Plain, Ma 02130 617-635-4205
Robert R. Frasca 440 Hanover Street Boston, Ma 02113 617-227-1533
Kenneth P Jervis 14 Burrill Place South Boston, Ma 02127 617-480-1123
Ayanna S. Pressley 1910 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester Ma 02124 617-635-4217
Will Dorcena 63 Gordon Avenue Hyde Park, Ma 02136 617-899-4076
Stephen J Murphy 141 Warren Avenue Hyde Park, Ma 02136 617-635-4376
Kevin R McCrea 218 West Springfield Street Boston, Ma 02118 617-267-2453
Abdillahi Mash Abdirahman 14 Guild Street Roxbury, Ma 02119 617-438-9087
Sean H Ryan 264 Lamartine Street Jamaica Plain, Ma 02130 617-504-3133
Thomas J Dooley III 112 Pinckney Street Boston, Ma 02114 617-529-8860
Michael F Flaherty 1726 Columbia Road South Boston, Ma 02127 617-269-4673

PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION
SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES for DISTRICT CITY COUNCILLOR

DISTRICT ONE
Robert R. Frasca 440 Hanover Street Boston, Ma 02113 617-227-1533
Salvatore LaMattina 76 Montmorenci Avenue East Boston, Ma 02128 617-635-3200

DISTRICT TWO
Suzanne Lee 1 Nassau Street Boston, Ma 02111 617-566-9992 617-935-1211
Bill Linehan 128 G Street South Boston, Ma 02127 617-635-3203 617-224-6911
Bob Ferrara 1776 Columbia Road South Boston, Ma 02127

DISTRICT THREE
Doug Bennett 714 Adams Street Dorchester, Ma 02122 617-963-4213 `
Martin J Hogan 491 Ashmont Street Dorchester, Ma 02122 617-297-5771 `617-203-1791
Marydith E Tuitt 127 Fairmount Street Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-719-6813
John K O’Toole 114 Minot Street Dorchester, Ma 02122 617-201-7866 `617-287-9398
Robert P McDonagh 35 Auriga Street Dorchester, Ma 02122 617-839-9817
Henry C Paquin 26 Taft Street Dorchester, Ma 02125 617-792-3823
Doug Hurley 15 Penhallow Street Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-922-1990
Sean Weir 32 Myrtlebank Avenue Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-710-1110
Michael P Christopher 43 Grampian Way Dorchester, Ma 02125 617-825-5238
Craig M Galvin 23 Cheverus Road Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-436-2000
Leonard M Lee 11 Mather Street Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-204-2832
Stephanie L Everett 197 Manchester Street Mattapan, Ma 02126 617-834-8688
Frank Baker 43 Grampian Way Dorchester, Ma 02125 617-288-9061 617-947-9515
Deirdre McDermott Habershaw 9 Sydney Street Dorchester, Ma 02125 617-872-5572

DISTRICT FOUR
Joseph A Jones Jr. 76 Bernard Street Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-785-9166
Charles Calvin Yancey 3 Hooper Street Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-635-3131
J R Rucker 103 Tonawanda Street Dorchester, Ma 02124 617-436-0815

PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION
SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES for DISTRICT CITY COUNCILLOR

DISTRICT FIVE
Rob Consalvo 18A Chittick Road Hyde Park, Ma 02136 617-361-5733 617-828-0129

DISTRICT SIX
Matt O’Malley 226 Jamaicaway Jamaica Plain, Ma 02130 617-935-9752 617-635-4220

DISTRICT SEVEN
Althea Garrison 98 Howard Avenue Dorchester, Ma 02125 617-407-7661
Tito Jackson 37 Schuyler Street Dorchester, Ma 02121 617-442-2837 617-635-3510
David James Wyatt 62 Weaver Court Roxbury, Ma 02119 617-442-4191 617-492-3076
Roy Owens 6 Woodville Street Roxbury, Ma 02119 617-541-4335
Sheneal Parker 30 Symphony Road Boston, Ma 02115 781-473-0640
Haywood Fennell Sr. 1850 Washington Street Boston, Ma 02118
Kevin A Dwire 25 Hawthorne Street Roxbury, Ma 02119 617-680-0085
Lee Buckley 840 A Shawmut Avenue Roxbury, Ma 02119 617-320-9396
Paul A Dobson 70 Saint James Street Roxbury, Ma 02119 857-991-0942

DISTRICT EIGHT
Michael P Ross 214 Parker Hill Avenue Roxbury, Ma 02120 617-635-4225 617-708-0202

DISTRICT NINE
Mark S Ciommo 10 Oliva Road Brighton, Ma 02135 617-789-4693 617-635-3113
William Paul Latulippe 3 Lawrence Place Brighton, Ma 02135 617-783-3702



.

The City Clerk's Office maintains public records, including all information related to the activities of the City Council.

http://www.cityofboston.gov/cityclerk/citycouncil/meetings.asp

Learn More About Boston's Open Government Efforts »
http://www.cityofboston.gov/open/

A new Staff Director for Boston City Council.

Boston City Council needs a new Staff Director that doesn't block access to public documents of the City Council and has up to date knowledge of technologies that make Council communications ever more accessible to all. The current City Council Staff Director is behind the times when is comes to assisting the public enquiring about Boston City Council's public documents and using the latest technologies and software to enhance access to City Council public records. By reassigning the current City Council Staff Director and appointing an up to date person with more advanced capabilities Boston City Council would be much improved as representative of the people.

What is the manufacturer and model number of the stenographic machine used at public meetings of the Boston City Council?...

What is the manufacturer and model number of the stenographic machine used at public meetings of the Boston City Council?...

Update of City’s Outdated Directory? Still Waiting

Update of City’s Outdated Directory? Still Waiting
By DAVID W. CHEN
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/the-book-everyone-is-waiting-for/

Budget hearing. Boston City Council. City Clerk.

A question that needs to be asked at the budget hearing on the budget for Boston City Council and/or Boston City Clerk budget... What would be the savings if we updated the stenographic machine technology with a computerized stenographic machine that features closed captioning for folks with hearing loss?

Re: Improved Access to City Council Records. Boston.

Regarding Improved Access to City Council Records in Boston, what needs improvement is the attitude. Resistance, deflecting are the attitudes of counter staff and council staff. Staff development needs more emphasis on continuing improvement of bettering customers services attitude toward enquiries. It's not a one time static thing. Encourage folks in their research on the city, on municipal government. Encourage folks to begin research. Avoid the responses that omit information because enquiries failed to be more specific. Guide with hints, tips, pointers, ideas. Enquiries about local government are opportunities to involve people in public service, to recruit young people to public service as a first choice career. Offer high school and college essay contests on sunshine open public meetings, transparent municipal government.

An up to date stenographic machine at Boston City Council

Will Boston City Council get a new stenographic machine for recording Councilors' deliberations in the public meeting of the City Council?... an up to date stenographic machine that includes closed captioning for folks with hearing loss. Budgeted for with public funds the stenographic machine needs to be up to date equipment that's cost efficient to operate.

Bad records management at Boston City Council.

Bad records management at Boston City council needs to be addressed now so that the public has access to public records. Denial is the problem. The City Clerk is a former City Councilor and in denial as well.

An obstacle to communications. Boston City Council.

An obstacle to Boston City Council communications, the City Council's Staff Director has not only failed in disclosing the stenographic machine record of the public meeting of Boston City Council and has deflected public enquiries for public information.

An open Boston City Clerk, Assistant City Clerk.

What would City Hall be like if we had a more open Boston City Clerk and a more open Assistant City Clerk?... What would City Hall be like if the offices of the City Clerk didn't intimidate the public?... but actually performed the services of a City Clerk in a welcoming manner with a welcoming attitude instead of the usual bad attitude at the Clerks counter.

It's 2011 and now time to update the offices of City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk that all are welcome with their enquiries about local government.

Good civics programs would encourage all to learn more about municipal government. Good civics programs would encourage people to bring their more awkward enquiries that the offices of City Clerk are prepared and willing.

Good civics programs would offer essay contests for high school students and college students to write about city government, FOI freedom of information public records principles, sunshine open public meetings principles of open government.

Automatically generated transcript

Scroll to the end and check out
"AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED TRANSCRIPT"
a mechanism used for call in radio at
http://audio.wrko.com/a/37087907/hackdom-alive-and-well-in-the-baystate.htm

And checkout transcripts for PBS shows, for example at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/slaves/etc/script.html

It's easier reading through text than waiting through video recordings.

Did Councilor Pressley request the stenographic machine record?

a.
For which public meeting of the Boston City Council from 2010 to 2011 did Councilor Pressley request the stenographic machine record?...

b.
For which public meeting of the Boston City Council from 2010 to 2011 did Councilor Pressley get a copy of the stenographic machine record?...

Specimen. Sample ballot.

Specimen Ballot
Especimen De Papeleta
Penalty For Willfully Defacing, Tearing Down, Removing Or
Destroying A List Of Candidates Or Specimen Ballot.

Fine Not To Exceed One Hundred Dollars.

La Penalidad Por La Destruccion, Alteracion, O Eliminacion De Esta
Papeleta De Candidatos Sera Una Multa De No Mas De 100 Dolares.

City of Boston / Ciudad De Boston
Specimen Ballot / Especimen De Papeleta
Special Preliminary Municipal Election / Eleccion Municipal Preliminar Especial
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Martes, 15 De Febrero De 2011

District/Distrito 7
Ward/Circunscripcion 4 Precincts/Precintos 4,5,8 & 9
Ward/Circunscripcion 7 Precincts/Precintos 10
Ward/Circunscripcion 8 Precincts/Precintos 3,4,5,6 & 7
Ward/Circunscripcion 9 Precincts/Precintos 2,3,4 & 5
Ward/Circunscripcion 11 Precincts/Precintos 1,2,3, & 5
Ward/Circunscripcion 12 Precincts/Precintos All Precincts 1 - 9
Ward/Circunscripcion 13 Precincts/Precintos 1,2,4 & 5



[ City Seal http://www.cityofboston.gov/visitors/about/cityseal.asp ]
Sicut patribus sit deus nobis.
As with our fathers may God be to us
Bostonia condita A.D. 1630.
Boston Founded in the Year of Our Lord 1630.
Civitatis regimine donata A.D. 1822.
City Status Granted by the Authority of the State in the Year of Our Lord 1822

Geraldine M. Cuddyer
Helen Y. Wong
Ellen E. Rooney
Shawn K. Burke
Board of Election Commissioners
Comisionados de la Junta Electoral

Instructions To Voter / Instrucciones Para El Votante
To Vote, completely fill in the Oval to the Right of your choice: [~]
To vote for a person not on the ballot, write that person's name and
residence in the blank
space provided and fill in the oval.

Para Votar, rellene completamente el Ovalo a la Derecha de su seleccion: [~]
Para votar por una persona que no esta en la papeleta, escriba el
nombre y las direccion de esa
persona en al espacio provisto y rellene el ovalo.

Candidates for City Councillor
Candidatos Para Concejal Municipal Del
District/Distrito 7

(For Unexpired Term) / (Para periodo que no haya expirado)
Vote For One / Vote Por Uno
Natalie E Carithers
20 Brookledge Street District/Distrito 7

Danielle Renee Williams
75 Munroe Street District/Distrito 7

Cornell Mills
9 Dennison Street District/Distrito 7

Tito Jackson
37 Schuylar Street District/Distrito 7

Roy Owens
6 Woodville Street District/Distrito 7

Althea Garrison
98 Howard Avenue District/Distrito 7
Former State Representative / Representante estatal anterior

(Write-In) (Escriba el nombre)


.

Job description. City Messenger.

The revised job description for the City Messenger needs to include archival skills for historic preservation of the Annual Reports of city departments. For too long the City Messenger has been withholding access to the Annual Reports that are supposed to be made available, violating responsibilities of the City Messenger. An open Boston City Council would see that the City Messenger would improve access to these public documents that citizens are supposed to have access to without even having to know to ask for the documents. A listing on the web or putting the documents themselves on the web would be taking the responsibilities of the City Messenger seriously. Regrettably the City Messenger and other Boston City Council staff only make a pretense of carrying out what they should actually be doing.

Budgeting for Boston City Council offices and staff.

The budget of Boston City Council offices and the 100 or so Council staff needs to be looked at with respect to the technologies used to communicate the deliberations, the proceedings. For too long the Boston City Council has been resisting enquiries for public information, has been resisting enquiries for public documents from the City Council.

See also:
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/08/0112246/New-Hampshire-Begins-Open-Data-Efforts

http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/new-hampshire-opens-its-states-legislative-data

Example of proper data publication:
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/downloads/Members%28Asterisk%20Delimited%29.txt

and more:
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/downloads/

A secret conspiracy to change the government by secret conspiracy.

The real story of Boston City Council is that you aren't welcome to observe the weekly public meeting. The City Council Chamber seating is made uncomfortable for citizens. The attitude of staff is offputting discouraging enquiries and discouraging access to public information for attending what is supposed to be an open public meeting. The 100 or so Council staff are remarkably uninformed about sunshine open public meetings principles and FOI freedom of information public records principles of open government. The 100 or so Council staff enunciate the principles but fail at putting the principles into their daily practice.

Job description. City Stenographer.

Revise the job description for the Boston City Stenographer responsible for recording the public meeting of Boston City Council. The original stenographic machine record shouldn't be removed from City Hall. The original shouldn't be taken home by the City Stenographer for preparing minutes.

A more up to date stenographic machine should be used.

The City Stenographer should retire with an incredible amount of money so that she can live luxuriously. But this City Stenographer should retire.

Job description. Staff Director.

The job description for Staff Director of Boston City Council needs updating to include technology skills for communicating the work of the City Council.

Backstage behind the scenes at Boston City Council

Tour backstage behind the scenes at the Boston City Council. How does the City Council work? What does the City Messenger there actually do? Why does the City Stenographer there use out of date stenographic machine equipment? Why are the seats in the public meeting Council Chamber painfully uncomfortable? How about the Boston City Council public meeting in more comfortable surroundings where observers can sit more comfortably? What are the specialties of some of the 100 or so City Council staff? How do the City Clerk there and the Assistant City Clerk there keep track of the proceedings? How advanced are the technologies used at Boston City Council?

How City Councilors keep public information away from citizens.

How City Councilors keep public information away from citizens.

Proper tracking of all the Councilors at Boston City Council isn't made easy for interested citizenry.

What's problematical about Boston City Council are the public records of this city council are kept at too long an arms reach for any interested citizen to read. For example Boston City Council applies the maximun allowable fees under Massachusetts public records laws http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcrmu/rmuidx.htm And the maximum allowable fees are assessed at each step of retrieval of the public record enquiry violating the spirit of open government FOI freedom of information public records principles. It's a loophole in law that allows custodians of public records to keep a public record out of reach for citizens' ordinary household budgets.

see also
http://anopenbostoncitycouncil.blogspot.com

Charges are assessed for retrieval of the public record at the prorated hourly wage of the lowest paid employee who is capable of performing the task http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prepdf/guide.pdf More charges are added for making paper copies even for electronic public records. Then more charges are added for redacting http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prepdf/pubreclaw.pdf

Compare the 17F Order of Boston City Council.
"SECTION 17F. Requests for Specific Information. The city council at any time may request from the mayor specific information on any municipal matter within its jurisdiction, and may request his presence to answer written questions relating thereto at a meeting to be held not earlier than one week from the date of the receipt of said questions, in which case the mayor shall personally, or through a head of a department or a member of a board, attend such meeting and publicly answer all such questions. The person so attending shall not be obliged to answer questions relating to any other matter. The mayor at any time may attend and address the city council in person or through the head of a department, or a member of a board, upon such subject as he may desire. [Acts of 1951, c. 376, s. 1.17F]"
17F of Chapter 452 of the Acts of 1948
http://www.cityofboston.gov/Images_Documents/Boston%20City%20Charter_tcm3-18855.pdf
http://www.cityofboston.gov/Images_Documents/2007%20the%20charter%20draft20%20(final%20draft1%20with%20jumps)_tcm3-16428.pdf

What's needed are reviews and amendments of all applicable Massachusetts Sunshine open public meeting laws and FOI freedom of information public records laws. A public records commission is needed. Attorneys in the offices of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and in the offices of the Attorney General http://mass.gov/ago/openmeetings that review/enforce public records and open meetings appeals need to be given a title of Administrative Judge.

Skilled, talented Boston City Council staff and new technology.

Among the 100 or so Boston City Council staff where are there people with the talents and skills for making the more effective use of new technology that communicates the proceedings and activities of the Councilors? For too long the City Council has been behind the curve with out of date stenographic services, out of date stenographic machine, uninformed attitudes toward free software http://fsf.org A more up to date Boston City Council would make use of free software City of Boston government could lead other cities governments by getting up to date technology, up to date software for communicating the important efforts of the Councilors. Advanced use of technology would serve the interest of the City Council in balancing the power of the Mayor's Offices.

Ellen M. Fritch and Associates, City Stenographer
373 Silver Street
Boston MA 02127
tel 617 269-5448
emfritch at aol.com
http://www.findacourtreporter.net/index.php?page=detail&get_id=11071

The Honorable William Francis Galvin
Massachusetts Archives Records Management Unit
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Terry French, Records Analyst
tel 617 727-2816 x259
fax 617-288-8429
terry.french at sec.state.ma.us
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcrmu/rmuidx.htm

Dear City Stenographer,

Please keep the original stenographic machine record, a public record at City Hall. Don't remove the original stenographic machine record from City Hall. A copy of the original can be used for editing.

Examples of historic preservation of a few of the previous years of this significant public record, the stenographic machine record, are kept by the Boston City Clerk at the City Archives http://www.cityofboston.gov/archivesandrecords/ and at Special Collections Department of Boston Public Library http://www.bpl.org/research/special/collections.htm

A file format for the long-term archiving of electronic documents

A file format for the long-term archiving of electronic documents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF/A

Are the out of date City Stenographer services grandfathered in?

Is there a grandfathering in without widespread advertising for bids?... for the out of date City Stenographer services at Boston City Council that use out of date stenographic machine technology. Up to date stenographic machine technology features closed captioning on public meeting webcasts and cable TV broadcasts for folks with hearing loss. Up to date stenographic machine technology or as it's now called scopist http://www.scopists.com/ScopistryWeb/ tchnology lowers the costs.

At so much a cost why should the stenographic machine record, a public record, be removed from City Hall?... taken home by the City Stenographer. The stenographic machine record belongs to the people. The stenographic machine record of the public meeting of Boston City Council should be made available. Look at the photographs of the stenographic machine. Check out on the web the manufacturer's model of the stenographic machine used at Boston City Council currently versus the new technology available.

Is the Office of the Boston City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk in denial?

Is the Office of the Boston City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk in denial about public records management?... How to improve the relationship between the City Stenographer and the staff of the Office of the Boston City Clerk/Assistant City Clerk is a matter of concern for tracking the proceedings of the public meeting of Boston City Council.

Removed from City Hall, should the original stenographic machine record, a public record of the City of Boston, be taken home by the City Stenographer? How to get City Clerk and City Stenographer practices improved for better records management of public records is important for citizen access/open government and for historic preservation of the public record.

Ask your favorite Boston City Council candidate...

Ask your favorite Boston City Council candidate...
. Will you disclose the stenographic machine record?... of the public meeting of Boston City Council.

. Will you better train and better supervise better staff development programs for the 100 or so staff of Boston City Council?... with respect to FOI freedom of information public records enquiries.

. Will you coordinate for better access online?... to materials in the Boston City Council Library http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/citycouncilpub.asp with the Government Documents Division http://bpl.org/research/govdocs/ at Boston Public Library and the City Archives http://www.cityofboston.gov/archivesandrecords/

. Will you bring Boston City Council into compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts records management guidelines for municipalities? http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcrmu/rmuidx.htm and comply with historic preservation of City Council records.

see also
By Ann Taylor Schwing
Open Meeting Laws 2d
http://www.openmeetinglaws.com

Boston City Council resources... Research Director Kevin Parker http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=197000231
also retired Research Director Robert Hannan.

By Peter Bachrach
The Theory of Democratic Elitism, A Critique
http://books.google.com/books?id=c9EPAQAAMAAJ
Peter Bachrach, Editor
Political Elites in a Democracy
http://books.google.com/books?id=fnTCNlU8zGcC

International Municipal Lawyers Association
http://www.imla.org/

Peter Kurilecz
Records and Archives in the News RAIN
http://twitter.com/rainbyte

City Messenger custodian of all City Documents.

Official indifference

Job description.
Why didn't the City Messenger make available the complete listing of City Documents?... the City Messenger job description includes "the City Messenger will be responsible for serving as custodian of all City documents.

Responsibilities.
The complete City Messenger listings of all City Documents need to be made available at http://cityofboston.gov

BOSTON CITY COUNCIL - CENTRAL STAFF

CITY MESSENGER
Under the supervision of the Staff Director, the City Messenger will be
responsible for:

* Providing staff support for assigned committees, scheduling
committee hearings, attending hearings and preparing notes and committee
reports, drafting or revising legislation at the request of committee
members; and

* Preparing for publication all City Council documents (Municipal
Register, Organization of City Government, City Council Minutes,
etc...); and

* Serving as custodian of all City documents; and

* Serving as Sergeant-At-Arms of the Council and escort members of
the Council at all official functions; and

* Preparing Council Chambers for all Council sessions and
hearings; and

* Processing daily incoming and outgoing mail; and

* Performing other duties as assigned by the Council or Staff
Director.

Qualifications:
* Working knowledge of city government and city departments
* Excellent interpersonal skills and attention to detail
* Excellent written and oral skills
* Word for Windows and Excel (Access a plus)
* Boston residency upon hire

Salary range: $40,000-$55,000

A culture of resistance.

Boston City Council has been culture of resistance when it comes to public disclosure and accountability. A new City Council President, even one promising transparency and openness, can't easily alter or affect that culture of resistance.

Continuing to deflect enquiries for the stenographic machine record of the public meeting of Boston City Council violates the spirit of open government.

Be concerned every time a single bureaucrat in an isolated circumstance violates or hampers the public's right to access or information. When it becomes the practice and custom in a government organization, those concerned are multiplied. Far too many governmental entities - - local, state, regional and federal- - are serial violators of disclosure and access laws. That's a huge concern.

Self government doesn't work when governments operate behind closed doors and under cloaks of secrecy. Assuming people want a government that is honest and effective, and one that works for their best interest, they need access to information that allows them to hold that government accountable. It simply doesn't work any other way.

see Ken Bunting
at
http://seattlepostglobe.org/2011/01/14/on-eve-of-open-government-conference-former-p-i-exec-gives-his-views-on-secrecy

Candidates. Sticker campaign.

Unofficial List of Certified Candidates for District 7 City Councillor
Special Preliminary Municipal Election – February 15, 2011
DISTRICT SEVEN
1. Natalie E Carithers   Dorchester
2? Haywood Fennell ?   Roxbury? Sticker campaign?
3. Althea Garrison   Boston
4. Tito Jackson   Dorchester
5. Cornell Mills   Roxbury
6. Roy Owens   Roxbury
7. Danielle Renee Williams   Roxbury

When the Boston City Council Staff Director gets promoted...

When the Boston City Council Staff Director gets promoted it will be an opportunity to get a Staff Director that will no longer block, deflect or delay access to the public records of the City Council. A new Staff Director will take more seriously the spirit of open government and the spirit of democracy by putting an end to the deflecting of enquiries about proceedings of Boston City Council.


Emotional extortion. Staff Director. Boston City Council.
Emotional extortion of the people making enquiries about the proceedings of Boston City Council is done by threatening to take away access to the routine communications emailed from the City Council. After being deflected, continuing to press for access to public records of the City Council gets any access made even more difficult to other communications, or gets access denied.

The stenographic machine at the public meeting.

Read the more complete stenographic machine record of the public meeting of Boston City Council. Budgeted for with public funds the stenographic machine more completely records the Councilors' deliberations in the public meeting of the Council for public feedback, comment, questions, suggestions and makes accessible the proceedings for folks with hearing loss.


Email and Boston City Council.
Boston City Council distributes email communications that need to include the attachments in the message so the communications are easy to view and share without further the reformatting required.


Technical staff at Boston City Council.
More qualified technical people are needed among the 100 or so Boston City Council staff.


The Library at Boston City Council.
A more open Boston City Council Library that is accessible online please! Public documents of Boston City Council need better historic preservation for studying metropolitan area government. See also http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/citycouncilpub.asp


Out of print documents at Boston City Council.
Put the out of print public documents online. For example see http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/citycouncilpub.asp


Communications. Boston City Council.
Rules of Boston City Council need to be updated with respect to online access to public records of Boston City Council.


A new up to date stenographic machine.
Updating the stenographic equipment hardware improves Boston City Council communications with the people. Closed captioning for folks with hearing loss. Real time text of the deliberations during the proceedings of the public meeting of Boston City Council.


Scopism.
The position of scopist was created when computers were introduced to the court reporting profession. Prior to PCs, court reporters oftentimes relied upon notereaders to produce their transcripts manually on typewriters. Because court reporting has become so computerized over the years, the scopist has become much more than just a legal transcriptionist; rather, they also perform vital computer-oriented tasks which can make them invaluable to today's court reporter.
http://www.scopists.com/ScopistryWeb/


Deflecting enquiries.
Too many citizen enquiries are deflected at Boston City Council.


Resisting change.
Improving Boston City Council is resisted by the entrenched souls there that no longer keep open in spirit the doors to their offices.


Emotional extortion.
Staff are used to emotional extortion to deflect enquiries. Boston City Council communications are distributed but then cut off arbitrarily to the people attempting to press concerns.


Ingratiating journalists and broadcasters.
Covering stories at Boston City Council, journalists and broadcasters get compromised, ingratiated to the same officials they attempt to gather news about for print and broadcast media.


Bids. Publicity. Stenographic services.
Bids for stenographic services are too limited for a lack of publicity.


City Messenger. Staff Director. City Stenographer. City Clerk. Assistant City Clerk.
Responsibilities of the City Messenger, Boston City Council Staff Director, City Stenographer, City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk need to be outlined more clearly for the public interested, concerned and following the proceedings of the public meeting of Boston City Council.


An unwelcoming public meeting.
The people aren't made welcome at the public meeting of Boston City Council, the Council chamber seating being remarkably unsuitable.


Some stenographic machine records.
Only a few stenographic machine records of the public meeting of Boston City Council are available at the Boston City Archives and at the Boston Public Library Special Collections Division.